International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, Volume 3, Issue 3, March 2013 1

ISSN 2250-3153

Review on Comparison of FACTS Controllers for Power

System Stability Enhancement
Vireshkumar G. Mathad, Basangouda F. Ronad Member IEEE, Suresh H. Jangamshetti Senior Member IEEE

Department of Electrical & Electronics Engineering,

Basaveshwar Engineering College (Autonomous),
Bagalkot-587102, Karnataka, India

Abstract- In recent years, power demand has increased The main disadvantage of FACTS devices is expensive cost to
substantially while the expansion of power generation and provide smooth and fast response to secure power system during
transmission has been severely limited due to limited resources normal and steady state operations.
and environmental restrictions. Transient stability control plays a
significant role in ensuring the stable operation of power systems Table.1: Cost comparison of various facts device [8].
in the event of large disturbances and faults, and is thus a
significant area of research. Flexible AC transmission systems Sl. No FACTS Device Cost (Rs/kVar)
(FACTS) controllers have been mainly used for solving various 1. Shunt Capacitor 432
power system steady state control problems. FACTS devices are 2. Series Capacitor 1080
capable of controlling the active and reactive power flows in a 3. SVC 2160(controlled portions)
transmission line by controlling its series and shunt parameters. 4. TCSC 2160(controlled portions)
This paper presents a review of comparison of different FACTS
5. STATCOM 2700
controllers in the power system for stability enhancement.
Benefits of FACTS controllers to power system are also 6. UPFC Series Portions 2700 (Through power)
discussed. 7. UPFC Shunt Portions 2700(controlled portions)

Index Terms- FACTS, SSSC, SVC, TCSC, UPFC, Line losses
and cost comparison.
I. INTRODUCTION
F lexible AC transmission system is an evolving technology to
help electric utilities [4]. Its first concept was introduced by
N.G Hingorani, in 1988 [7]. The solutions to improve the quality
FACTS controllers may be based on thyristor devices with no
gate turn-off or power devices with gate turn-off capability.
FACTS controllers are used for the dynamic control of voltage,
impedance and phase angle of high voltage AC transmission
lines. The basic principles of the following FACTS controllers
are discussed briefly.

A. Static Var Compensator (SVC)

of supply in the electrical networks with go through the
applications of the developments in semiconductor power
devices, that is to say, the utilization of static power converters in
electrical energy networks. The technological advances in power
semiconductors are permitting the development of devices that
react more like an ideal switch, totally controllable, admitting
high frequencies of commutation to major levels of tension and
power [7].
Recent development of power electronics introduces the use of
FACTS controllers in power systems. FACTS controllers are
capable of controlling the network condition in a very fast
manner and this feature of FACTS can be exploited to improve
the voltage stability, and steady state and transient stabilities of a
complex power system. This allows increased utilization of
existing network closer to its thermal loading capacity, and thus
avoiding the need to construct new transmission lines. The well
known FACTS devices are namely SVC, STATCOM, TCSC,
SSSC and UPFC. Figure 1 Basic structure of SVC

SVC is a static Var compensator which is connected in parallel to

II. FLEXIBLE AC TRANSMISSION SYSTEM (FACTS) DEVICES
It is well known fact that for reactive power compensation
FACTS devices can be used. Table 1 gives an idea about the cost
of various reactive power sources including all FACTS devices.
transmission line. SVC acts as a generator/load, whose output is
adjusted to exchange capacitive or inductive current so as to
maintain or control specific power system variables. Static Var
systems are applied by utilities in transmission applications for

www.ijsrp.org
International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, Volume 3, Issue 3, March 2013
ISSN 2250-3153
several purposes. The primary purpose is usually for rapid
control of voltage at weak points in a network. Installations may
be at the midpoint of transmission interconnections or at the line
ends. SVC is similar to a synchronous condenser but without
rotating part in that it is used to supply or absorb reactive power.
The basic structure of SVC is shown in Fig. 1. The SVC is
connected to a coupling transformer that is connected directly to
the ac bus whose voltage is to be regulated. From Fig. 1, SVC is
composed of a controllable shunt reactor and shunt capacitor(s).
Total susceptance of SVC can be controlled by controlling the
firing angle of thyristors. However, the SVC acts like fixed
capacitor or fixed inductor at the maximum and minimum limits
[1,3].
B. Thyristor Controlled Series Capacitor (TCSC)
TCSC is series type compensator, used to increase power transfer
as well as to enhance system stability. TCSC controllers use TCR
in parallel with segments of series capacitor bank. The
combination of TCR and capacitor allow the capacitive reactance
to be smoothly controlled over a wide range and switched upon
command to a condition where the bi-directional thyristor pairs
conduct continuously and insert appropriate reactance into the
line. The basic structure of the device is shown in Fig. 3.
Figure 2 Configuration of a TCSC
The TCSC consists of three main components: capacitor bank C,
bypass inductor L and bidirectional thyristors SCR1 and SCR2.
The total susceptance of the line is controlled by controlling the
firing angle of the thyristors [1,2,3].
C. Static Synchronous Series Compensator (SSSC)
Figure 3 Simplified diagram of a SSSC
2
SSSC is connected in series with a power system. It has a voltage
source converter serially connected to a transmission line through
a transformer. It can be considered as asynchronous voltage
source as it can inject an almost sinusoidal voltage of variable
and controllable amplitude and phase angle, in series with a
transmission line. The injected voltage is almost in quadrature
with the line current. A small part of the injectedvoltage that is in
phase with the line current provides the losses in the inverter.
Most of the injected voltage, which is in quadrature with the line
current, provides the effect of inserting an inductive or capacitive
reactance in series with the transmission line. The variable
reactance influences the electric power flow in the transmission
line. The basic configuration of a SSSC is shown in Fig. 3[1,3,6].
D. Unified Power Flow Controller (UPFC)
Among the available FACTS devices, the Unified Power Flow
Controller (UPFC) is the most versatile device that can be used
to enhance steady state stability, dynamic stability and transient
stability. The basic configuration of a UPFC is shown in Fig. 4.
The UPFC is capable of both supplying and absorbing real and
reactive power and it consists of two ac/dc converters. One of the
two converters is connected in series with the transmission line
through a series transformer and the other in parallel with the line
through a shunt transformer. The dc side of the two converters is
connected through a common capacitor, which provides dc
voltage for the converter operation. The power balance between
the series and shunt converters is a prerequisite to maintain
aconstant voltage across the dc capacitor. As the series branch of
the UPFC injects a voltage of variable magnitude and phase
angle, it can exchange real power with the transmission line and
thus improves the power flow capability of the line as well as its
transient stability limit. The shunt converter exchanges a current
of controllable magnitude and power factor angle with the power
system. It is normally controlled to balance the real power
absorbed from or injected into the power system by the series
converter plus the losses by regulating the dc bus voltage at a
desired value [7,9].
Figure 4: Unified Power Flow Controller (UPFC)
www.ijsrp.org
International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, Volume 3, Issue 3, March 2013 3
ISSN 2250-3153

III. COMPARISON BETWEEN UPFC, SVC, TCSC, AND SSSC FOR

POWER SYSTEM STABILITY ENHANCEMENT
Table 2 shows the comparison of FACTS devices of two-area
power system with series and shunt FACTS devices. Series
FACTS device connected between bus 2 and 3 in a single circuit
long transmission line as shown in Fig. 5. The shunt FACTS
device is connected parallel to bus number 2 as shown in Fig. 6.
From table 2 it is investigated that the SSSC is requires more
time for stability enhancement. TCSC FACTS device UPFC is
the effective device for load flow, voltage control and stability
enhancement of inter-area power system.
Figure 6 Two-area power systems with shunt FACTS device

Table 3 shows Simulation studies were done for different

Figure 5 Two-area power systems with series FACTS device
FACTS devices on IEEE 5 bus power system to find line losses
[5]. TCSC, SVC and UPFC are placed in different bus and losses
at each step are determined. It observed that placing TCSC in
between bus 2 and bus 5 losses are reduced. It is best location for
TCSC is to minimize the losses. For SVC the best location is
between bus 2 and bus 3 to minimize the losses. UPFC is placed
at different locations and optimal location for UPFC is between
bus 5 and bus 4 to minimize the losses. UPFC regulates the
voltage of the bus as well as regulates the active and reactive
power of the buses and the lines losses within specified limits.

Table 2: Comparison between FACTS Devices for Power System Stability Enhancement [1,2,6]

S. No. FACTS Power System Load flow Voltage Transient Dynamic Time
Device Stability Enhancement control stability stability (sec)
1 UPFC YES High High Medium Medium 0.6
2 TCSC YES Medium Low High Medium 1.5
3 SVC YES Low high Low Medium 7
4 SSSC YES Low High Medium Medium 11

Table 3: Comparison between FACTS Devices for Power System Stability Enhancement

BUS Line losses with TCSC Line losses with SVC Line losses with UPFC
Real power Reactive power Real power Reactive power Real power Reactive power
From To loss loss loss loss loss loss
2 3 6.47328 -11.66943 6.6734 -9.5535 4.79012 -16.85673
2 4 6.53247 -12.03645 6.8625 -8.9328 4.70994 -17.10167
2 5 6.32411 -23.88476 11.3428 5.5864 5.02372 -15.57745
3 2 6.47642 -11.66949 6.7284 -9.6334 2.92428 -23.45038
3 4 6.12821 -10.85432 6.3158 -10.3962 5.04984 -16.31023
4 2 6.53872 -12.03452 6.9372 -8.9694 2.91293 -23.4464
4 3 6.12834 -10.85342 6.4121 -10.4043 2.91293 -23.4464
4 5 6.15325 -10.87238 6.1319 -11.1986 6.22885 -12.66832
5 2 6.32984 -13.85347 11.294 4.7654 1.37279 -28.66214
5 4 6.15096 -10.87543 6.1234 -11.2188 1.37279 -28.66214

www.ijsrp.org
International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, Volume 3, Issue 3, March 2013 4
ISSN 2250-3153

Energy System) from Basaveshwar Engineering College,

IV. CONCLUSION Bagalkot, Karnataka, India in 2010. His areas of interest include
FACTS are powerful devices to improve the voltage profile Power Electronics, Power system and Renewable Energy
and power system enhancement. In this paper, comparison of Sources. Presently he is working as faculty in the Department of
different FACTS devices with respect System Stability Electrical & Electronics Engineering at Basaveshwar
Enhancement is carried out and gives a idea about the FACT Engineering College, Bagalkot, India.
devices. It is found that the performance of the UPFC is higher Email id - basugouda.ronad@gmail.com
for power system stability improvement is compared with the
other FACTS devices such as SVC, TCSC, and SSSC Third Author - Dr. Suresh. H. Jangamshetti: (S'88, M'90,
respectively. The UPFC has settling time in post fault period is SM'97) was born in Bijapur, Karnataka, India on May 28, 1963.
found to be around 0.6 second and maximum loss can be reduced He obtained his B.E (Electrical) degree from Karnataka
compared to other FACTS device. University Dharwad in 1985 and M.Tech. (Power Systems) &
Ph.D (Wind Energy Systems) from IIT Kharagpur in 1989 &
2000 respectively.
His areas of interest include Wind-Solar Energy Systems, Energy
REFERENCES
Conservation, Computer Applications to Power System and
[1] A. Sode-Yome, N. Mithulananthan, Kwang Y. Lee, A Comprehensive
Comparison of FACTS Devices for Enhancing Static Voltage Stability 1-
FACTS He won the "Outstanding IEEE Student Branch
4244-1298-6/07, 2007, IEEE. Counsellor" award for the year 1996(R10) and 2010 (IEEE
[2] Mehrdad Ahmadi Kamarposhti, Mostafa Alinezhad, Hamid Lesani, Nemat Bangalore Section) at Basaveshwar Engineering College,
Talebi, Comparison of SVC, STATCOM, TCSC, and UPFC Controllers Bagalkot, Karnataka, India. He was Fulbright-Nehru Visiting
for Static Voltage Stability Evaluated by Continuation Power Flow Lecture Fellow at Michigan Technological University, Houghton
Method 978-1-4244-2895-3/2008 IEEE Electrical Power & Energy
Conference. MI USA during Fall 2011. He is working as Professor in the
[3] D. Murali, Dr. M. Rajaram, N. Reka, Comparison of FACTS Devices for department of E&E at Basaveshwar Engineering
Power System Stability Enhancement International Journal of Computer College,Bagalkot.
Applications (0975 8887) Volume 8 No.4, October 2010. Email id - jangam@rocketmail.com
[4] M. Arun Bhaskar, C. Subramani, Jagdeesh Kumar, Dr. S .S. Dash, Voltage
Profile Improvement Using FACTS Devices: A Comparison between SVC,
TCSC and TCPST 2009 International Conference on Advances in Recent
Technologies in Communication and Computing, 978-0-7695-3845-7,
2009, IEEE.
[5] Ch. Rambabu, Dr. Y. P. Obulesu, Dr. Ch. Saibabu, Improvement of
Voltage Profile and Reduce Power System Losses by using Multi Type
Facts Devices International Journal of Computer Applications (0975
8887), Volume 13 No.2, January 201.
[6] Alok Kumar Mohanty, Amar Kumar Barik, Power System Stability
Improvement Using FACTS Devices International Journal of Modern
Engineering Research (IJMER), Vol.1, Issue.2, pp-666-672 ISSN: 2249-
6645.
[7] N. G. Hingorani and L. Gyugyi, Understanding FACTS: Concepts and
Technology of Flexible AC Transmission Systems. New York: IEEE Press,
2000.
[8] Cigre 95 TP108, FACTS Overview, IEEE Power Engineering Society,1995.
[9] Banakar Basavaraj, Ronad Basangouda, Jangamshetti Suresh. H.,
Transmission Loss Minimization using UPFC, International Journal of
Modern Engineering Research (IJMER), Vol. 2, Issue. 5, Sep.-Oct. 2012
pp- 3602-3606 ISSN: 2249-6645

AUTHORS
First Author - Vireshkumar G. Mathad was born in Bailhongal,
Karnataka, India on 14 Sept. 1984. He obtained B.E (Electrical
and Electronics) from Visweshwaraiah techhnological
University, Karnataka, India in 2010. He is currently persuing
M.Tech. Degree in Power and Energy Systems in Electrical and
Electronics Engineering, Basaveshwar Engineering College,
Bagalkot, India.
Email id - vireshmathad@gmail.com

Second Author - Basangoud F. Ronad Was born in Badami,

Karnataka, India on 22 July 1986. He obtained B.E (Electrical
and Electronics) from Visveswaraih Technological University,
Belgaum, Karnataka India in 2008 and M.Tech (Power and

www.ijsrp.org